Oji Holdings installs demonstration facility for cellulose nanofibers

OJI Holdings Corporation (OJI) has developed a ground-breaking production process for cellulose nanofibers (hereafter, CNF), which applies a phosphate esterification chemical treatment method.

Practical use of CNF has been largely impeded by the burdensome energy requirements of the pulp refining process from which CNF are derived. After evaluation of a variety of chemical processes which could potentially reduce the energy requirements of the refining process, we at OJI have determined that our newly developed chemical treatment process involving phosphate esterification is the most feasible technology at the present time to achieve practical implementation. Therefore, OJI has decided to install a manufacturing demonstration facility to further inspect this production process.

With the introduction of the demonstration facility, OJI will not only inspect the energy reducing effects of this production process, but we will broaden our array of samples to be provided to users at the implementation stage. This will also expedite the initiative towards commercialization.

Merits of phosphate esterification
The strongest merits of OJI’s original phosphate esterification process are as follows:

1.This technology enables us to produce CNF with high quality (ultra-high transparency, ultra-high viscosity).
2.It will also provide the means to manufacture by using exclusively safe chemicals (phosphate, etc.) found in common products such as cosmetics.
3.We expect strong electrostatic resistance between individual CNF which may substantially reduce the energy required in the manufacturing process.